Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Pott's Puffy Tumor in a Pediatric Patient

Pott's puffy tumor is a subperiosteal abscess that mostly occurs as a rare complication of frontal sinusitis or osteomyelitis of the frontal bone. It can be life-threatening without timely identification and treatment owing to its potential for intracranial extension, causing empyema, meningitis, sinus venous thrombosis, or cerebral abscess. In this case report, we describe the case of a 16-year-old girl who presented with a tender forehead swelling, fever, sore throat, and nasal congestion. A bedside ultrasound scan helped to identify early changes suggestive of frontal sinus infection and abscess formation. Head computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis of Pott's puffy tumor, with pansinusitis as an additional finding. This case highlights early identification of the condition based on clinical presentation and point-of-care ultrasound findings, which enabled us to initiate appropriate intravenous antibiotic therapy in the Emergency Department. Timely initiation of treatment using a multidisciplinary approach led to significant improvement in the clinical outcome for our patient and prevented progression to intracranial extension and other complications.